Page:Smith - Number Stories of Long ago (1919).djvu/28

OF LONG AGO fingers. For at least two thousand years the merchants of different countries made number signs with their fingers in bargaining at the great fairs where they met to buy and sell the goods that thus went from country to country, — spices from India, silks from the land of Ching, wool from the ancient home of An-am, and dates from the palm trees under which Menes played many centuries before.

“Did they really count like this?” asked the Tease.

“Really,” replied he of the curious book.

“I think it is funny,” said the Tease.

“No funnier than your way would seem to Ching,” said the Story-Teller.

“Do we have another story to-morrow night?” asked one of the Crowd.

“Not another story ever,” replied the Story-Teller, “unless you go to bed.”

“And then?”

“To-morrow we must all fill a question box, and each must answer every question.”

“And then?” asked the Tease.

“And then? Well, then we shall see,” replied the Story-Teller.